Following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to governor Sim Fubara by the Martin Amaewhule led faction of the Rivers State Assembly, the pro-Wike lawmakers have now shutdown expenditure from the State’s consolidated account.
The Martin Amaewhule led faction of the Rivers State Assembly had mandated governor Sim Fubara to present within seven days, the 2024 Rivers State annual budget before its members for proper legislation. The governor had in his reaction to the ultimatum from the pro-Wike members of the state assembly, vowed never to succumb to their threats. He stated the 2024 budget has been duly passed into law and now effective.
However, with the Appeal court ruling which reinstated the 24-man-pro-Wike members of the Rivers State Assembly amid the political tussle between former governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, the pro-Wike assembly men declared that governor Sim Fubara will neither be allowed to approve or authorize expenditure from the state’s consolidated revenue funds nor the various ministries be permitted to spend funds from the state’s consolidated revenue until governor Sim Fubara abides by their ultimatum.
It is being speculated that the pro-Wike lawmakers are likely to begin the process of impeaching governor Sim Fubara following his refusal to present the 2024 budget before them. The governor’s action is considered an impeachable offense and the members of the pro-Wike lawmakers are keen on having the governor impeached especially as the court of appeal ruling has validated their status as Rivers State Assembly members at the expense of the pro-Fubara lawmakers who had hastily passed the 2024 budget in a controversial manner.
Despite calls from notable Nigerians on the two feuding parties to allow peace to reign in Rivers State, it appears that the parties are bent on seeing to the end of their supremacy battle at the expense of the desired peace and progress in Rivers State.